Instead of focusing on educational/occupational background, what personal traits do employers look for in the "perfect candidate?"

I think there are two traits that are always highly desired. The first is a positive attitude. Having that "can-do" perspective on things builds your personal brand as someone who has skin in the game and really cares about the impact you're making. It also is extremely beneficial for team morale. The second is being a good, investigative problem solver. You should always ask questions and seek to understand first, followed by uncovering the challenges/problems and then work to solve them collaboratively. This is an essential skill that can be used wherever you work. It shows you can focus on a goal and work to achieve it with others.

Hello!
There are many traits, or "soft skills" that employers value and seek out in potential candidates. Two important traits are being an effective communicator and being flexible. It very important to be able to clearly and concisely articulate your thoughts both verbally and nonverbally. Good communication not only helps to reduce confusion across departments and business units, but it also gets the job done more efficiently. Flexibility is similar to dealing with ambiguity. To an employer, that means that you can adapt to new situations and handle unforeseen events.